James Baldwin’s literary and prophetic brilliance, along with his grassroots activism were illuminated by Raoul Peck’s biopic I am not your Negro in 2016. It reminded us of Baldwin’s continuing influence and relevance as an inspiring force in times of struggle and deep despair. In this interactive essay presentation, we explore the role of Baldwin as a ‘witness’ which we link to Baba Esu, an important Orisa in the Yoruba Ifa spiritual system. Baba Esu/Elegba is a messenger deity, keeper of the crossroads, and is often misinterpreted as ‘the devil’ in Western terms. Esu is the one who opens the way by ensuring we make sound choices, which may require harsh truths to keep us aligned. We reflect on this interpretation of the devil/god duality in our consideration of Baldwin as an Esu figure. Join us as we celebrate Baldwin’s centenary at the CLR James Library. Bring your favourite quotations and personal impressions to share. Way Wive Wordz in collaboration with the CLR James Library, Hackney.